Zanobia Hotel Lattakia

... The nearest town was called Kesap, a further 10 km uphill in the pouring rain where I hoped to find a cheap hotel or hospital in which to recover.

It was midnight by the time I arrived and all were sleeping, I tried to wake the hotelier up, but alas to no avail, so I slept in a shopping arcade. I awoke in the morning to the concerns of locals who were afraid I'd be imprisoned for sleeping in a public place. Feeling pretty ill and damp a nice ...

... my way back to the station where I got off the bus... I didn't need that stupid cab after all! When I first got to Lattakia I was in search of cheap accommodation due to the fact I was running out of money fast. I searched hi and low for my hotel but it just didn't appear and with the weight of my ruck-sack, had to give in for a short while so I stopped for coffee and cultural enrichment. During Ramadan, very few people cheat the ritual but there are a few that sit in the 'coffee ...

Lot's to talk about from our short time in Selma (pics up soon, forgot the cable)...

First - Brown Chapel - starting point for the march from Selma to Montgomery (and Bloody Sunday two weeks prior). Simply standing on the street where so many brave men and women stood up to "authority" and said "no more" sent chills down my spine. I mentioned Abby's reading Dr. King's autobiography, which really enriched the conversations with her and my 8 year old Maggie. It was ...

... him behind

(Jim)

Krak des Chevaliers was built by the Crusaders way back in 1099, in the only significant gap in the coastal mountain range – anyone moving to or from the Syrian coast would have to pass right past the castle's front door. Luckily for us the castle was given up without a fight in 1271, after war, disease and plain old homesickness had reduced the garrison from 2,000 to 200 men. This and the dry mountain environment have worked to keep ...

... her to willingly join us in the water. So that meant I had to pull her in. This was not an easy task and she scurried out as quickly as she could.

In the afternoon, my cousin Frankie saddled up some of the horses and Alex got to go for a little ride. Then there was more swimming and even time to hold one of Uncle D's new baby ducks...a father's day gift from his daughters.

We had a very peaceful and relaxing visit and can't wait to go back again.

... Oreo cookie and cream cheese balls dipped in chocolate...decadence. While Jackie was cooking, we walked down to the barn so Alex could help feed the horses. Tori & Bella were very intrigued with these new creatures and weren't quite sure how to approach them. It was a funny site.

... En 20 minuts, jo i el Derrick ho tenim enllestit i decidim tornar a Lattakia. Passem la resta del dia en un bar, fumant narguiles i xerrant. Per la nit veiem el Barca - Bayern, amb el public local decantant descaradament per l'equip blaugrana i disfrutant d'allo en cada un dels quatre gols. Per acabar-ho de rematar, cauen un parell de gin tonics a 1 Euro la unitat. Ha estat un dia d'allo mes tonto, pero molt agradable ...

... down the road at a high speed of 40mph(only when not sliding) we had people and big rigs passing us. There was this one big rig- a blue Werner- that blew passed us, as nervious as we were we just could not believe that people did not slow down on all that snow and ice. Well never the less we saw that Werner truck a few miles down the road going up a hill jackknifed!!! Go ahead and ...

We woke up early, Thelma at 5:30, and Lousie at 6. We double checked our directions & map and watched the tv and the internet for the winter weather warnings we were to return home to. We finished packing and hit the road. We had already made a reservation in Priceville, AL at the Day's Inn which would be about a halfway point home. The weather for Florida and Alabama included ...

... stuffed FULL and had a great time. More importantly, they took my mind off all the seriousness I've had over the past few days and it was welcome.

Bashar has a place to stay and a big Italian meal if he ever comes to the US! I took a bad-ass picture of him in his new sunglasses that I'll post when I find a faster connection.

Tomorrow I'm off to see Krak (that will require some hitch-hiking) and then off to Palmyra through Homs. Should be a busy day!